Use of Seatbelt and Child Restraints in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region as a Factor in Road Traffic Safety

: 2.022_NCD Use of Seatbelt and Child Restraints in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Region as a Factor in Road Traffic Safety W.M. Rohrer, C. Lobo, B. Folb, A. Dulin; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA Background: Introduction: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major public health challenge across the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region, including the Gulf Co-Operation Council (GCC) nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Evidence-based studies guiding health policy changes in addressing public health impact of RTAs within this region are limited. Objective: This study, based on findings of a thematic sub-sample of an ongoing systematic review of literature on RTAs in the EM region, focuses on studies addressing seatbelt and child restraint usage within the GCC nations. The aim is to provide an evidence-based foundation for effective policy making, public health education and compliance with existing laws and best practices for road safety. Methods: A systematic search performed using OVID Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, TRID, and CABI Global Health databases. Screening criteria for inclusion were relevance, EM region, publication after 1999 and written in English. Of the 313 articles reviewed 21 were identified with the primary focus on use/nonuse of seatbelts and child restraints. Findings: Results: Commonalities among the findings are identified as: (1) the majority of drivers and front seat passengers fail to use seatbelts; (2) child restraints are not routinely or properly used; (3) non-national drivers and passengers are more likely to use seatbelts and child restraints than nationals; (4) older drivers are more likely to use these safety devices than younger drivers; and (5) although reasons for nonuse vary, “discomfort”, “forgetting” and “being dangerous” are cited factors. Five of the articles suggest that ineffective enforcement of existing traffic laws is a contributing factor, and eight made explicit recommendations for improved legislation, policing and enforcement of traffic laws and/or more public safety education. Interpretation: Conclusion: The prevalence of nonuse of these safety measures within GCC nations is puzzling. The literature reviewed justifies further research on the demographic, economic and socio-cultural factors that facilitate and inhibit more effective policymaking and enforcement of proven road safety practices in this region and globally. Source of Funding: None other than contributed time. Abstract #: 2.023_NCD: 2.023_NCD Impact of Community-Academic Partnerships on Nursing Students and the Community: An Integrative Review A.R. Schneider, L. Stephens, S. Semenic; McGill University, Montreal, Canada Background: Community-academic partnerships (CAPs) are increasingly being developed in nursing education to enhance the number of clinical placement sites, to develop community nursing knowledge and skills, and to “give back” to the community; however, literature to date is largely descriptive with limited empirical data on key outcomes of CAPs. This review synthesized the current literature on nursing CAPs in order to identify their impacts at the individual, community, and organizational level. Methods: Whittemore’s updated methodology for the Integrative review was used to conduct a systematic literature search from January 2005 until November 2015 using CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, and Global Health electronic databases.